Vegan Society of Ireland Asks Agriculture Minister to Add Horticulture to Farm Diversification Options

The Vegan Society of Ireland has asked Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to include fruit, vegetable, and legume production as a farm diversification option in Ireland. A survey conducted by the charity found that 81% of Irish adults would like to consume more of these foods. Currently, around 83% of fruit and vegetables consumed in Ireland are imported, leaving the country vulnerable to extreme weather and crop failures abroad.

The Climate Change Advisory Council has recommended that the Department of Agriculture review the production potential of Irish horticulture as a way for farmers to prepare for climate challenges. The VSI also highlighted cost as a barrier to consuming more plant-based foods, with 32% of respondents citing it as the main obstacle. The VSI believes that there is a market gap in Ireland for more locally-produced fruit, vegetables, and legumes, and has called for policy changes to incentivize plant-based production.